The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-30
A BACHELOR A. 80.
He Lives Alone and Knits His own
Socks.
From the Bosto,, Globe

SLire raises u blgger crop OF OLD people TO
che square mile than any other State in the
Union. Scattered all over its hIlsides arc
hundreds of men and women from 50 to 100
years Of age. Many of them are as hale
and hearty and rugged as their neighbors Of
middle age.
One of the most remarkable old men in
New Hampshire is Thomas Murphy, aged
30, living on what is known as George hill
In this town. To-day | drove out eight
miles from the railway station to his rouse,
and had an hours chat with him He lives
all alone in one of the best farnihouses in
town. There is large harm, and the other
outbuildingS are of the most substantial
character. When reached his place he was
IN the barn Harvesting his horse which, by
the way, is II years old
a The man himself was great surprise
Standing about feet 10 inches, he is as
straight as an arrow. He has q full head
of dark brown hair, with hardly tinge of
white. His Galway whiskers are of the
same color, and were neatly brushed. His
eye is of light blue and as bright as but
ton, his skin soft and clear. He has a full
set Of natural teeth, remarkably even and
white His voice is full and does not trem-
BILE in the slightest degree. He never wore
glasses in his life, and can to-day read news
paper print readily. Ho writes full, round
hand. .-..
''Step into the house" said the old man;
sit is warmer there"
In going from the barn to the house It is
necessary to pass up a fight of a dozen
steps. These this morning were covered
with thin coating of ice The old man
went up these stairs without touching the
side rail, and he reached the top several
steps in advance of me. He turned around
and smiled, and said that he probably aver
aged going over the stairs twenty times a
day..
+. "You know" said he, ''that l live all
soul alone here There is not even cat in
the house to keep me company. l do nv
own cooking, washing and mending, and
knit my own socks.
There was cheerful fire burning in the
kitchen stove, and l took a look around the
room A cleaner kitchen could not be
found in New England The stove had evil
IDENTIFY just been BACKED, and it shone like
junk bottle The floor was white, and
the walls and windows as clean as SOAP and
water could make them. The table had the
appearance of being set for the MONDAY
meal The dishes were clean, and in the
centre of the table was loaf of brea |. Mr..
Murphy noticed me looking at it, and he
got up and brought it to me.
Eyes, l made it. Taste it..
did so. 1t was as white and light as the
driven snow. praised it and he looked
pleased. All the other rooms of the house
looked as tidy as the kitchen.
II have 40 acres of land, and carry on
the farm all alone, except during haying
time, hire a boy to help me three or four
days. The. past season raised As bushels
of potatoes, Is tons of hay, Is bushels of
beans, besides wheat and oats This fall
have cut and hauled to the barn 20 cords of
stove wood. have done it all alone, too
except the work / hired in hayiEs. I churn
all my own butter, and have soma to sell
L -
took drop of medicine iii my life nor paid
doctors bill / sleep as soundly as l ever
did. am at peace with the whole world,
and don't know why l am not enjoying life
as we'll as anybody. No, I am never lone
some. My horse there is a pretty good
friend. | sometimes say:
Round goes the world; troubles and cares !
defy,
jogging along together, my boys, my poor old
horse and !.
81 was born in the county Clare, Ireland.
Dec. Is, 1888, andcanne to this country in l19S.
landing at Long wharf at the foot of State
street. Boston, with my faith r, when l was
was 10 years old | was bound out to old
Clark, the cooper, at the North End, with
worked at the trade in Boston and i'll
Charlestown until 1915, when came up to
New Hampshire, and / have lived in this
State ever since. 1 worked for time on
the State House at Concord while it was be-
ing built i'll lSl317, and then | worked for
the Canterbury Shakers many years.
remember very well the cold Friday
worked all that day cutting wood for the
Shakers There were two persons frozen
to death in the town, but | didn't call
it any colder than many other
days. After leaving the Shakers | worked
farming in Gilmanton, Loudon, Plainfeld,
and other WINS of the State, and led a
quiet farmers life. l came to Enfield thirty
years ago, and have paid taxes here ever
Since, although l have been away portion
of the time. About ten years ago thought
it about time to have home OF my own, so
bought his place. IL has been owned and
occupied summers by Mr. Suloway father
of Hon. A. w. Sulloway, President of the
Northern railroad. | was never Marie.
Il have always been temperate i'll my
habits have used a little tobacco and less
rum. For more than seventy five years
have spent the most Of my time out in the
open air, and for many years when l was
choppi e wood in the winters | slept in
shanties away from the farmhouses, carry
ing in my provisions and doing my own
cooking. There is nothing so
and plenty of fresh air | am 80 years old,
hut | don't know OF any reason why |
shouldn't live to be 100. | certainly never
felt better In my life. ! have no stiff
joints and my muscles seem to be as hard
and firm as ever. My appetite is always
good, but l am very careful not to eat too
much. My food is of the piainest kind. In
summer, principally fruit and milk, with
occasionally little fresh meat. | try never
to be idle | am busy about something
nearly all the time while awake. | read a
good deal and have been greatly interested
In the stories of the old people printed in
the Globe The Globe is my iavorite paper.
go to bed III summer about s o'clock and
get up about g. lii the winter go about
or 1880 and get up about 6. | own this
farm and have got little money at inter
est | should have no fear of the poor
house If / hadn't cent, for can go out at
days work and earn my living any time.
No, don't call myself very cid man.
Why should ~
Driving back to the station i stopped at
Mr.. Murphv's nearest neighbours. The man
met here said that be had known the old
man for more than thirty year,. =
''He is certainly very remarkable man.
met a few years ago a man who knew MIR.
Murphy way back at the time he worked
for the Canterbury Shakers. There is not
the slightest question about his age. He is
one of the best Of neighbors. The amount
Of work he can do in a day is wonderful.
Why, would about as soon have him Ia
my field as any man can hire. Last sum-
,ner some sheep got into his field and were
doing some damage to his crolS. Mr. Muir